Alfred Lord Hershey

Alfred Hershey was a scientist known for his work in genetics and microbiology. He, along with Martha Chase, conducted famous experiments in the 1950s that helped confirm DNA is the material inside genes that carries genetic information. Using viruses that infect bacteria, they showed that DNA, not protein, is what transfers genetic traits. This discovery was a key moment in understanding how genes work and contributed to the foundation of modern genetics and molecular biology. Hershey’s research helped scientists better understand the molecular basis of heredity.